NY Jets Game Preview (Patriots)

4-5 Jets @ 6-3 Patriots
Sunday November 22nd, 4pm CBS
by Joe Grinwis

Here we are Jet fans.

Sure, Calvin Pace and other Jets and media members alike (including yours truly) dubbed last Sunday’s game against Jacksonville as a “must win”. I mean, the Colts were undefeated, but the Patriots were playing better, as weird as that sounds, heading into their Sunday Night Showdown. The Pats had to win the game. Right? Right….?

Wrong. The Patriots lost, in large part due to the “genius” of Bill Spygate Belichick and now have left the door open for the Jets to make a run. There are seven games, including this Sunday’s game, left in the season for the Jets. They are two games out of first place but with a win on Sunday in Foxboro the Jets, unbelievably, could move within one game of the Patriots with six to play. The Jets also would hold the tiebreaker, so they would only have to make up one game in six weeks. As crazy as that sounds right now to the fans of a team who has lost 5 of 6 games, it is the reality.

So, what are the Jets going to do? Come out flat in the 4th quarter again when it matters most? Or, are Rex Ryan’s tears enough to re-energize this team and get them back to how they were playing in Week 2 when the Jets beat the Patriots in the Meadowlands, 16-9.

Tune in Sunday, it’s going to be a good one.

Key-Matchups
WR’s Randy Moss & Wes Welker vs Jets Cornerbacks

Moss will be matched up against Jet Pro Bowl CB Darrelle Revis, just like their Week 2 meeting in which Moss hauled in only 4 catches for 24 yards. This time around, however, the Patriots will have their slot speed demon in Welker who was a late surprised scratch in the Week 2 meeting. Welker will be going up against either second year man Dwight Lowery or veteran Donald Strickland. Both will have their hands full. Welker is good for around 8 receptions a game, if not more.

Jets Pass Rush vs Patriots Offensive Line

In the first meeting, the Jets got to a rusty Tom Brady (wow, it took this long for me to mention the great Brady?), 23 times. 23 times Brady hit the Meadowlands turf and it played a huge, huge role in the outcome of the game. If the Jets can do this again, they have a great chance of winning. If not, it is going to be a long, long day.

Prediction

The Jet fan in me tells me two things. One, pick the Patriots because this Jet team has lost 5 of 6 and is just prone to let us down. But the other side tells me the Jets play to the level of their opponent, whether that opponent be the great Patriots or the lowly Buffalo Bills.

In the end, I’m glutton for punishment like most other Jet fans, and I’m going to go probably with the incorrect prediction, but, screw it. We’re gonna win this game.

Jets – 26
Patriots – 24

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